Renault Duster Adventure 85 RxE Edition Launched

After introducing the 110 BHP Adventure Edition in February 2014, Renault has now introduced an 85 BHP version to its line-up. The 85 BHP Adventure Edition Duster is priced at Rs. 9.17 lakh, ex-showroom Delhi and looks eager to be taken out for some off-roading.

The Adventure edition sits above the base RxE variant and costs approximately INR 55,000 more than the RxE. For keeping the popularity up and running, Renault is trying its best to keep its buyers and the upper-middle class interested in the compact-SUV segment. Speaking of popularity, the Duster recently crossed the one million units mark globally and India is its fourth largest market.

On the exterior you get smoked headlamps, extra plastic cladding over the flared up wheel arches and the bumper, an extra set of high-set fog lamps integrated into the front bumper, blackened B-pillar, compass-sticker on the D pillar, body coloured outside rear view mirrors and gunmetal alloy wheels.

On the inside, the 85 BHP Adventure Edition doesn’t get all the features of its big-brother 110 BHP. So there’s no touch-screen entertainment system. But we get rear seat armrests though, which isn’t available on the RxE trim. The seats have the ‘Duster’ word sewn into them, while the door inserts and floor mats get a fluorescent theme.

But like the RxE, the Duster Adventure Edition has no safety equipment like ABS with EBD or Airbags. We think for a vehicle which is an SUV by genre and is priced over Rs 9 lakh should not have compromised on safety equipment. Renault needs to look into this aspect for such a popular car like the Duster.

The Duster Adventure Edition 85 BHP is powered by the 1.5-liter four-cylinder diesel engine making 85 BHP and 200 Nm of torque, transmitted to the front wheels via a 5-speed manual gearbox. The higher end 110 BHP Adventure Edition is powered by the same 1.5-liter four-cylinder diesel engine, producing 110 BHP and 248 Nm of torque. It has a fuel economy of 19.05 kmpl as compared to the 20.45 kmpl for the 85 BHP edition. Though for the mileage savvy nation, this slight difference in the fuel economy between the two variants may not be a major deal maker/breaker, but the parity of Rs. 2.62 Lakhs might be a good reason to stick with the budget adventure ergo. 85 BHP Adventure Edition rather than the 110 BHP.

Renault is set to add a 4×4 variant to the diesel 110 BHP Duster that is due just before the festive season commences in August. We will keep you posted on the further developments, until then do let us know what you think of the Renault Duster Adventure 85 RxE